For the eighth year, the temple welcomes the community to this concert for a cause, the maintenance and restoration of the history Jewish Cemetery in Monroe.

The couple behind the concerts are Don and Phyllis Marcus. Several years ago, the Marcuses laid the groundwork for Saturday’s concert.

They had experience producing shows, having created several for the Park Synagogue when they lived in Cleveland, Ohio. Those were big productions with professional directors and choreographers.

Spoofs, Don explains, with slightly altered titles such as “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Shool,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff” and “From Tel Aviv with Love.”

“You just had fun with them,” he said.

The Marcuses brought that experience with them to B’nai Israel.

“The first concert was a klezmer band. The best way I can describe it is Jewish jazz,” said Phyllis.

It was a hit, “People were dancing in the hallways,” Don said.

The next year they decided to have music by Jewish Americans. That second concert was led by the late Billy Ledbetter, a renowned professional musician from Monroe, and his group.

“Billy said you could go for years and years and never run out of music composed or performed by Jewish Americans,” Phyllis said.

The third year, musician Rod Allen Payne took over the direction of the concert and has been at the helm ever since. Joining Payne on stage is guitarist Carvel Avis and Louisiana Tech professor Lawrence Gibbs on clarinet and saxophone.

“I look forward to coordinating the efforts,” Payne said. “Carvel and I kind of bat around ideas. I admire his talent and couldn’t do it without him.”

“I love working with Nancy. She is a true professional. She could have easily been a big band singer. She and her brother (Billy) have the gift,” Payne said.

Over the years, the proceeds from the concerts have resulted in many improvements to the Jewish Cemetery; new fencing, re-marking of graves and major repairs.

The cemetery is of historical significance to northeastern Louisiana.

“The earliest graves are from the Civil War,” Don said.

Some of the funds even went to fence repairs at an almost forgotten Jewish cemetery in Bastrop.

The Marcuses look back on the years of the concerts with pride and gratitude to the community. Each year is a sell-out, with dignitaries and officials attending, along with music fans from all denominations.

“We really have a wonderful show and a reception afterwards,” Phyllis said. “We are so grateful to the community for supporting us for all these years.”